Court To Rule On Yahaya Bello’s Request For Medical Trip Abroad On July 17

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has set July 17, 2025, to deliver a judgement on a request by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, seeking permission to travel abroad for medical reasons.

During hearing on Tuesday, Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the court to order the release of his client’s international passport so he could seek medical care outside the country.

However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Bello, opposed the request.

In a counter-affidavit, the EFCC argued that allowing him to travel could delay the ongoing legal process.

In his response to the prosecution, Daudu told the court that they had filed an additional 20-paragraph affidavit, signed by Bello himself, along with two supporting documents.

“Exhibit C is the CTC of the ruling of your lordship, admitting the defendant to bail, and Exhibit D is the ruling of the FHC admitting him to bail.

“We adopt these documents in urging your lordship to grant our application,” he stated.

Daudu also addressed the EFCC’s claim that filing similar applications in two separate courts was an abuse of process.

He said it was the EFCC that filed the same charges in both courts, and that applying in both was necessary to avoid any legal conflict.

EFCC’s lawyer, Chukwudi Enebele (SAN), argued that Bello should have notified his sureties of his plan to travel, so they could decide whether to continue standing as guarantors.

He also said that filing the same application in two courts could lead to confusion or conflicting decisions.

Daudu, however, said the sureties were already aware and dismissed concerns about international alerts (Interpol), calling them irrelevant at this stage.

“Finally, on the interpol matter, it is a dead argument. He has never flouted your lordship’s order. They themselves have even forgotten about those red alerts,” the lawyer added.

He insisted Yahaya Bello had complied with all court orders and asked the judge to approve the travel request.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Maryann Anenih adjourned the matter to July 17 for a ruling.

KanyiDaily recalls that in December 2024, a Federal High Court in Abuja approved N500m bail for Yahaya Bello avier alleged N80bn fraud.